Wq-vwivn 

Xrulxa. 


VOMAN 

of 

INDIA 


'Uhe 

New  Woman  of  India 


Helen  Woodsmall  Eldredge 


Foreign  Department 
National  Board  of  the 
Young  Womens  Christian  Associations 
of  the  United  States 

1919 


THE  NEW  WOMAN  OF  INDIA 

Helen  Woodsmall  Eldredge 


INDIA  is  to-day  one  of  the  most  fascinating  countries  of  the 
Orient  and  no  subject  pertaining  to  it  is  more  fraught  with 
interest  than  the  development  of  Indian  women.  The  multi- 
plicity of  races  differing  in  customs,  religion  and  character 
makes  a short  discussion  of  the  women  of  India  difficult,  as 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  generalize. 

In  considering  any  phase  of  the  life  or  customs  of  Indian 
women,  one  must  bear  in  mind  the  fact  that  India  is  a land  of 
contrasts:  fabulous  wealth,  extreme  poverty;  brilliant  minds,  dense 
ignorance;  power  of  the  Rajas  and  utter  depression  of  the  lowest 
classes;  wonderful  beauty  of  the  mountains  and  arid  desolation  of 
the  deserts;  culture  and  refinement  of  the  educated  minority  and 
illiteracy  of  the  masses. 

THE  ZENANA  WOMAN 

Nowhere  is  the  contrast  more  striking  than  between  the  new 
woman  of  India  and  her  sister,  the  zenana  woman.  To  get  any 
adequate  conception  of  the  problem  of  Indian  women  of  the  present 
day,  it  is  necessary  to  remember  that  this  is  a time  of  transition. 
Indian  womanhood  is  just  lifting  its  head  after  years  of  degrada- 
tion. Until  recently  the  average  Indian  woman  was  content  to 
stay  behind  the  purdah  but  now  many  are  timidly  emerging  from 
the  silence,  seclusion  and  superstitions  of  purdah  life  into  the 
freedom,  liberty  and  enlightenment  of  the  wider  life  waiting  for 
them  outside. 

The  majority  of  Indian  women,  considering  numbers  alone, 
are  still  living  in  zenanas  in  what  may  be  called  the  old  period 
of  Indian  womanhood.  These  women  differ  but  little  in  their  life 
from  the  women  of  old  Mogul  days.  But  new  conceptions  are 
revolutionizing  old  customs.  Broader  visions  of  the  possibilities 


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of  women  are  overcoming  the  limitations  of  those  olden  times. 
A few  have  come  out  entirely  into  the  sunlight  of  the  new 
day.  A great  number  linger  in  the  doorway  between  the  old  and 
the  new.  The  change  is  taking  place  gradually  and  in  many  cases 
leading  women  who  are  extremely  modern  in  most  respects  are  still 
clinging  tenaciously  to  many  old  customs. 

THE  NEW  WOMAN 

Three  examples  of  well-educated  women  who  are  still  in 
zenanas  but  who  are  affecting  the  thought  and  life  of  India  in  a 
vital  way  are  Hageat  Bibi  of  Kobul,  the  Maharam  of  Baroda  and 
the  Begum  of  Bopal.  Hageat  Bibi,  a formidable  old  woman,  is 
the  mother  of  the  present  Amie  of  Afghanistan  and  played  an 
important  part  in  the  late  border  disputes. 


A PRINCESS 

The  Maharam  of  Baroda  is  the  wife  of  the  Taikmar  of 
Baroda,  one  of  the  most  enlightened  native  princes  of  India. 
She  is  well  educated,  speaks  English  perfectly,  is  a leader  in 
many  progressive  reforms  in  the  life  of  the  state  and  is  cognizant 
of  all  that  goes  on  in  the  Raja’s  court,  and  yet  she  lives  in  her 
zenana  and  in  many  respects  observes  the  rules  which  have  been 
obligatory  upon  Hindu  wives  from  time  immemorial. 

A RULER 

The  Begum  of  Bopal  is  the  only  woman  ruler  of  India.  She 
is  a Mohammedan  and  observes  strict  purdah,  wearing  her  burka 
even  when  visiting  the  English  Court.  She  is  educated  and  rules 
her  court  and  native  state  very  wisely,  but  does  not  speak  English, 
and  receives  foreign  visitors  through  the  aid  of  an  interpreter.  When 
holding  audience  with  foreign  men  the  Begum  sits  behind  a purdah 
while  the  conversation  is  going  on.  She  is  very  interested  in 
America  and  pleased  to  give  Americans  interviews.  When  speak- 
ing with  her  Highness,  some  think  of  her  as  an  interesting  friend 
rather  than  as  a great  ruler,  because  of  her  kindly  expression  and 
simple  manner.  The  keenness  of  her  eyes  betokens  her  high  intelli- 
gence. She  is  an  ardent  supporter  of  all  measures  to  uplift  and 


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educate  Indian  women.  Under  her  direct  supervision  she  has  a 
school  for  high  caste  children  and  a Purdah  Club  for  the  women 
of  Bopal. 


COLLEGE  WOMEN 

The  college  woman  is  a comparatively  recent  phenomenon  in 
India  but  there  are  now  nine  hundred  women  graduates  of  Indian 
colleges.  These  women  must  be  the  leaders  to  open  the  door  of 
progress  for  Indian  women.  Many  of  them  are  teachers,  some  are 
doctors  and  others  are  following  various  public  careers  or  are 
married  to  educated  men  and  are  influencing  other  women  through 
the  home. 

PROGRESSIVE  LEADERS 

The  real  vanguard  of  the  Indian  woman  of  the  future  is  made 
up  of  a small  group  of  brilliant,  refined,  cultured  women  from 
the  upper  classes  who  have  had  exceptional  advantages  of  educa- 
tion and  foreign  travel  and  who  occupy  prominent  positions  in 
India  in  social,  educational,  political  and  religious  circles. 

A REFORMER 

The  first  to  be  mentioned  would  be  Pundita  Ramabai,  who 
for  many  years  has  devoted  her  life  to  work  for  Indian  women. 
She  was  the  first  Brahmin  widow  to  break  the  thrall  laid  upon 
Hindu  widows.  She  acquired  a splendid  education  in  England 
and  America  and  has  for  many  years  conducted  schools  for  Hindu 
widows  in  Kedgaon.  In  connection  with  the  schools  she  has  a 
publishing  establishment  and  has  completed  various  translations  of 
the  Bible  and  many  other  books.  Her  home  for  widows  and  her 
schools  represent  the  first  step  of  Indian  women  to  break  the 
shackles  of  the  past  and  free  themselves  from  the  superstitions 
which  have  bound  them. 

A POETESS 

Mrs.  Sorojini  Naidu  is  a poetess  of  international  reputation, 
two  of  her  books  of  poems,  “The  Golden  Threshold”  and  “The 
Broken  Wing,”  being  well  known  to  American  readers.  Songs 
from  these  two  books  have  been  set  to  music  by  English  and 


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American  composers.  Mrs.  Naidu  is  a charming  little  person, 
very  fascinating  in  her  jewels  and  her  Indian  draperies  of  silk.  On 
her  forehead  she  wears  the  tiny  red  mark  which  betokens  she  is  a 
married  Hindu  woman.  Her  husband  is  a prominent  Hindu  phy- 
sician of  Hyderabad  Deccan,  and  held  a commission  in  the  war. 
Mrs.  Naidu  was  educated  in  England  and  Europe  and  is  interested 
in  many  questions  of  world-wide  interest.  She  is  a popular  lecturer 
being  known  as  the  golden-tongued  orator  of  India,  and  she  is 
closely  identified  with  politics  and  various  movements  pertaining 
to  the  government  of  India  and  the  life  of  the  people.  This  versa- 
tile woman  is  frequently  appointed  on  commissions  to  represent  the 
Indian  woman’s  attitude  toward  questions  which  must  be  discussed 
with  the  Government.  She  was  recently  a member  of  the  com- 
mittee sent  to  England  to  speak  for  Home  Rule  for  India. 

A MUSICIAN 

Begum  Fyzee  Rahamin  is  an  extremely  interesting  woman  who 
spent  last  season  in  New  York.  She  was  educated  in  Girton 
College  (Cambridge) , and  was  the  first  Mohammedan  girl  to  win 
an  English  scholarship  for  her  intellectual  achievements.  She  has 
spent  many  years  in  London  and  Paris  and  is  particularly  inter- 
ested in  the  interpretation  of  Indian  art  and  music.  She  is  a 
musician  of  rare  ability  and  has  lectured  on  Indian  music  and 
demonstrated  the  same  to  select  Paris  and  New  York  audiences. 
While  in  New  York  the  Begum  had  records  made  of  her  singing, 
the  first  records  of  the  kind  to  be  made.  With  the  Begum, 
while  she  was  in  America,  were  her  husband,  a celebrated  Indian 
artist  and  two  sisters,  one  of  whom,  Her  Highness,  the  Begum 
Sabiba  of  Janjira,  is  a most  charming  Indian  woman,  of  great 
grace  and  refinement.  The  Begum  Sabiba  also  plays  with  skill 
upon  various  difficult  Indian  musical  instruments. 

A PHYSICIAN 

Dr.  Karmarkar,  of  Bombay,  is  another  interesting  woman  of 
India.  She  is  an  Indian  Christian  and  has  devoted  many  years  to 
improving  conditions  of  life  for  Indian  women.  She  received  her 
M.  D.  degree  from  the  Women’s  Medical  College  of  Philadel- 
phia, and  her  son  graduated  from  Princeton.  She  is  a highly 
valued  member  of  the  Indian  National  Committee  of  the  Young 
Womens  Christian  Association. 


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A LAWYER 


Miss  Cornelia  Sorabji  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
woman  lawyer  of  India.  She  is  having  a most  interesting  career 
in  Calcutta  where  she  handles  business  matters  in  the  courts  for 
many  zenana  women  who  would  otherwise  be  obliged  to  conduct 
their  affairs  through  the  medium  of  a barrister  with  whom  the 
necessary  interview  would  have  to  be  held  from  behind  a purdah. 
A zenana  woman  is  not  prohibited  from  talking  with  men 
but  she  must  not  be  seen  by  one.  Miss  Sorabji  is  a charming 
cultured  woman  of  keen  intelligence,  whose  public  career  has  left 
no  touch  of  unbecoming  boldness  which  many  feared  would  be  the 
result  of  public  life  upon  Indian  women,  as  is  so  often  supposed  to 
be  the  case  with  women  when  they  first  enter  public  life. 


AN  EDUCATIONALIST 

Miss  Cornelia  Sorabji  is  a member  of  a remarkable  family 
which  has  exerted  a marked  influence  on  the  development  of  educa- 
tion for  women  in  India.  They  stand  out  as  one  of  the  few 
prominent  Parsee  families  which  has  adopted  Christianity.  The 
father  and  mother  were  broad  and  far  ahead  of  their  time  in  their 
attitude  toward  the  question  of  education  for  girls.  After  excep- 
tional advantages  of  education  and  travel  the  various  members  of 
the  family  have  become  leaders  in  different  lines  of  activity. 

Two  sisters  have  excellent  schools  for  high  caste  girls  and  are 
leaders  in  educational  affairs,  one  in  Dacca  (Central  Provinces), 
and  the  other,  Miss  Susie  Sorabji,  in  Poona  (Bombay  Presidency). 
Another  sister,  who  is  a poetess  of  marked  ability,  took  a medical 
degree  and  married  an  English  surgeon,  Dr.  Pennell,  who  was 
famous  for  his  work  among  the  frontier  tribes  of  Afghanistan. 
After  his  death  Mrs.  Pennell  continued  his  hospital  work  in 
Baunu.  During  the  war  the  English  Government  commandeered 
this  hospital,  made  it  a military  base  and  conferred  a military  rank 
upon  Mrs.  Pennell  so  that  she  could  remain  in  charge  of  the 
hospital.  Later,  when  the  necessity  for  using  this  hospital  as  a 
military  base  ceased  to  exist.  Dr.  Pennell  was  appointed  by  the 
Government  to  be  one  of  the  five  women  doctors  in  charge  of  a 
large  military  hospital  in  Bombay — The  Freeman  Thomas  Hos- 
pital. Incidentally,  two  of  these  doctors  were  American  women. 


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PARSEE  LEADERS 


There  is  an  interesting  group  of  Parsee  women  in  Bombay. 
The  Parsees  are  as  a class  the  best  educated  people  in  India  and 
the  Parsee  women  have  had  more  freedom  to  develop  as  the  zenana 
system  has  never  existed  among  them  and  they  have  never  had 
purdah.  Bombay  society  is  made  up  of  prominent  members  of  the 
English,  Mohammedan,  Hindu  and  Parsee  communities. 

Among  the  Parsees,  Lady  Tata,  Lady  Petit  and  Lady  Jehan- 
gir  may  be  mentioned  as  leading  society  women  who,  because  of 
their  education,  culture,  ability,  wealth  and  high  social  position, 
are  able  to  give  invaluable  aid  ir.  the  development  of  a larger, 
freer  life  for  women. 

These  three  women,  as  well  as  many  others  in  the  same  group, 
have  spent  much  time  in  European  capitals,  in  governmental 
circles.  They  are  accomplished  women  and  charming  hostesses. 
Lady  Tata  is  especially  interested  in  all  questions  pertaining  to 
the  education  of  Indian  girls.  She  was  at  one  time  vice-president 
of  the  Bombay  Girls’  High  School  Athletic  Association  with 
which  the  Young  Womens  Christian  Association  has  been  closely 
connected.  Its  growth  was  one  determining  factor  in  procuring 
an  American  physical  director  for  the  Bombay  Association. 


WOMEN'S  CLUBS 

A significant  sign  of  the  advance  made  by  Indian  women  is 
the  rapid  development  of  the  Indian  Women’s  National  Associa- 
tion. Local  clubs  of  the  organization  exist  in  all  of  the  large 
cities  of  India.  The  object  of  the  club  is  social  and  educational 
uplift.  It  would  correspond  to  the  average  women’s  club  for  an 
American  city.  Monthly  lectures  on  various  subjects  such  as 
literature,  science  and  art  are  given  with  occasional  open  guest 
meetings  for  social  enjoyment.  At  these  meetings  one  may  see 
Hindu,  Mohammedan,  Parsee,  English  and  American  ladies  hob- 
nobbing together.  Women  who  keep  strict  purdah  are  these; 
many  do  not  speak  a word  of  English,  but  all  mingle  in  the  most 
natural  way. 

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STRENGTH  AND  WEAKNESS  OF  THE  NEW  ERA 


A few  years  ago  a gathering  of  women  of  the  different 
races  and  castes  of  India  would  have  been  impossible.  Questions 
of  importance  which  would  not  have  caused  a ripple  of  interest 
among  Indian  women  a decade  ago  are  now  eagerly  discussed  by 
them.  Government  reforms.  Home  Rule,  social  welfare  work, 
schools,  dispensaries,  proper  housing  conditions,  hospitals  for 
women  and  children,  ways  to  spread  abroad  propaganda  regard- 
ing proper  care  of  children  by  mothers,  better  conditions  in  fac- 
tories for  women,  regulation  of  child  labor  and  child  marriages, 
and  the  right  of  women  owning  property  to  vote, — these  and  many 
other  such  subjects  are  receiving  the  careful,  intelligent  interest  of 
thoughtful  Indian  women  who  are  striving  to  bridge  the  great  gulf 
between  the  old  order  and  the  new.  Many  of  these  women  will 
make  mistakes  and  many  struggles  lie  ahead  as  the  masses  follow 
these  leaders. 

The  inevitable  faults  of  a transitional  period  are  evident.  In 
an  exuberance  of  new  found  liberty  some  have  indulged  in  ex- 
cesses. Many  have  chosen  the  crudest,  cheapest  features  of  the 
foreign  patterns  they  are  copying  because  they  have  not  yet  estab- 
lished standards  by  which  to  gauge  and  judge  their  intrinsic  worth. 
However,  through  education  in  the  best  which  foreign  countries 
have  to  give  to  India  will  come  the  knowledge  which  will  lead 
Indian  women  to  eliminate  the  undesirable  and  to  choose  the  best 
in  the  new  life  unfolding  before  them. 

Indian  women  are  looking  toward  English  and  American 
women  for  examples  upon  which  to  pattern  their  new  life.  The 
part  of  American  womanhood  is  to  give  of  her  best  to  India  that 
she  may  gain  the  highest  ideals  upon  which  to  base  the  new  life  of 
her  women,  and  that  there  may  come  to  her  a vision  of  the  great 
things  to  be  accomplished  by  the  united  power  of  women,  of 
whatever  race  or  creed. 

Practically  without  exception  all  the  women  mentioned  above 
are  interested  in  the  work  of  the  Young  Womens  Christian  Asso- 
ciation in  India.  Several  of  them  are  active  friends  of  the  Asso- 
ciation. They  recognize  and  welcome  the  active  help  which  the 
Y.  W.  C.  A.  is  giving  in  the  development  of  Indian  women. 


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